Display tube mounting arrangement



,1 w. M. HENNESSEY I 3,522,483

DISPLAY TUBE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT Filed July 2, 1968 F 4 230 INVENTDR.

\5 x30 WILL/AM M. HENA/ESSEY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,522,483DISPLAY TUBE MOUNTING ARRANGEMENT William M. Hennessey, Somerville, NJ.,assignor to Burroughs Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation ofMichigan Filed July 2, 1968, Ser. No. 742,031 Int. Cl. H02b 1/04 US. Cl.317-99 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure is ofapparatus for mounting a series of indicator tubes comprising a bracketincluding openings for receiving the tubes and having a keyway adaptedto mate with a key on a mounting member coupled to the tube. Themounting member includes a relatively large slot for receiving a groupof tube pins or leads, and a plurality of holes for receiving separateones of the leads to provide coupling and alignment of the mountingmember with the tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many types of instruments on themarket, for example calculators, meters, counters and the like whichutilize a plurality of character display tubes mounted sideby-side in arow. It has been found that it is relatively difiicult to mount a largemember of tubes, particularly tubes with flexible leads, so that theyare all oriented identically without one being twisted slightly withrespect to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises the provisionof a mounting member adapted to be coupled to each tube and held by thetube leads and including a key adapted to orient the mounting member andits tube in a mounting bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket used in practicing theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an indicator tube and a mounting diskused in conjunction with the bracket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the tube of FIG. 2 showing a typical leadarrangement; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG.1 with the apparatus of FIG. 2 secured thereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus of the inventionis adapted to support a plurality of display tubes in instruments suchas calculators, meters, or the like. One tube of this type is the B5750made by Burroughs Corporation. This tube is known as a side-view tubeand includes an enevelope 30 having a base or stem 40 and a dome 50which carries tubulation 60. The tube 20 contains an electrode assembly(not shown) which includes a plurality of cathode char acter electrodesarranged in a stack, an anode electrode which surrounds the stack ofcathodes, and at least two auxiliary character electrodes, usuallydecimal points. The stem 40 carries two parallel rows of pins orflexible tube leads 100 are connected to the cathode electrodes, twoother pins 110 which are spaced apart near the rear of the tube and aresecured to the anode electrode inside the envelope, and two other pins120 near the front of the 3,522,483 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 tube which arespaced apart and are connected to the auxiliary character electrodes.

The apparatus of the invention includes an insulating mounting member ordisk adapted to be coupled to each tube 20 and to be used in mountingthe tube in a bracket which itself is mounted in the instrument andsupports the indicator tubes in viewing position. The disk 130 has agenerally fiat base from which a generally circular pedestal portionrises. The circular portion 150 includes a central slot 160, two closelyspaced aper tures near one end of the slot and two relatively widelyspaced apertures near the front of the slot. The disk 130 also includesa keying post which rises above portion 150 near one corner of the base.

In use, the disk 130 is coupled to a tube 20 by inserting the two anodepins 110 in the two closely spaced holes 170 and the two pins 120 to theauxiliary electrodes in the widely spaced holes 180, and the cathodepins or leads 100 are inserted in the slot. The disk 130 is pushed upagainst the stern of the tube and held in place by mechanical engagementof the pins or leads with it. One or more pins may be bent over tosecurely engage the disk 130.

The apparatus 10 also includes, according to the invention, a generallyU-shaped bracket 200 which is intended to carry the display tubes 20 andincludes a top wall 210, a back wall 220, and a bottom wall 230. Thebottom wall 230 includes a plurality of generally circular openings 240,each of which has a keying notch 250 at the same location on theperiphery of the circle. The top wall 210 carries a rubber or otherresilient strip 260' cushioning the domes of the tubes and a pluralityof apertures 270 which are adapted to receive the tubulations of thedisplay tubes, if such are present.

With a disk 130 coupled to each tube 20, the tube is inserted throughthe large circular opening 240 in the bottom wall 230, and it is set inplace with its tubulation 60 in an aperture 240 in the top wall 210,with the key post 190 forming a tight fit in the keying notch 250 in thebottom wall, and with the circular pedestal 150 inserted in and forminga tight fit in opening 240. The dimensions are sufiiciently close intolerance so that the disk 130 carrying its tube 20 is held tightly inthe bottom wall.

With this arrangement, it can be seen that all of the tubes mounted inthe bracket 200 are oriented identically on their spacers 130, and allof the spacers 130 are oriented identically on the bracket, due to thekeying post 190, so that all of the tubes are oriented and positionedcorrectly and as desired.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting arrangement for tubes of the type which includes anenvelope having a tubulation at its upper end and a stem in which aplurality of flexible tube leads are sealed, said arrangement includingan insulating disk having apertures for receiving tube pins and forsupporting a tube, said disk having a key post, and a generally U-shapedbracket having a bottom wall,

a side wall, and a top wall, said bottom wall having a plurality ofapertures, each being identical in size, shape, location andorientation, and each including a keyway and each adapted to receivesaid disk, with said key post oriented in said keyway, said top wallhaving a relatively small opening aligned with each of said apertures insaid bottom wall for receiving the tubulation of each tube mounted on adisk seated in one of said apertures in said bottom wall.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each disk provides a tightfit with its aperture.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1" wherein each di'sk includes anelevated portion which is seated in frictional engagement in its saidaperture.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each disk includes a centralslot for receiving selected ones of said tube leads, and other aperturespositioned near the periphery of the disk for receiving others of saidtube leads.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 and including cushioning meanspositioned between each tube and the top wall of said bracket.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein each disk includes a centralslot for receiving selected ones of said tube leads, and other aperturespositioned remote from said central slot for receiving others of saidtube leads. 15

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,270 5/1959 Kenney 317-101FOREIGN PATENTS r 784,327 10/1957 Great Britain.

1,111,004 4/1968 Great Britain.

1,162,258 4/1958 France.

0 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner D. SMITH, 111., AssistantExaminer 7 7 us. c1. X.R. 317-101; 340-52; 339' 93, 193; 174-158; 31s-5o

